Morehouse College Celebrates 132nd Commencement As The College Has Three Valedictorians For The First Time

Date Released: May 16, 2016

ATLANTA (May 14, 2016) – Commencement exercises for Morehouse College are set for Sunday, May 15, 2016, at 8 a.m. with telecommunications pioneer Strive Masiyiwa to deliver the Commencement address. The ceremony will take place outdoors, rain or shine, on Morehouse’s Century Campus (the green in front of Graves Hall parallel to Fair Street).

Masiyiwa is one of Africa’s most influential businessmen and has been named one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by CNN Fortune Magazine and one of the “10 Most Powerful Men in Africa,” according to Forbes magazine. He and his wife, Tsitsi, founded the Higherlife Foundation which has helped support and educate more than 250,000 African orphans. They funded the Andrew Young International Scholars, with the inaugural class at Morehouse set to graduate Sunday. One of them is International Rhodes Scholar Prince Abudu.

Some student stories of interest include:

Darrius Atkins

A political science major, Darrius Atkins was accepted into 10 of 12 law schools to which he applied — and received generous scholarship offers from most of those institutions. With an interest in seeing more fairness in law, policy and the legal system, he plans to return to his native Chicago to study on a full tuition scholarship at the University of Chicago. Atkins, who never knew his father and whose mother has struggled with substance abuse throughout his life, was raised by his maternal grandmother. He is excited to have his grandmother on hand Sunday to witness his graduation.

Ivan Gaskin

Ivan Gaskin is 2016 class president and a computer science major with a minor in mathematics. The Seattle, Wash., native is co-founder of Reflect, a mobile storytelling application that brings still pictures to life. Gaskin, who attended Morehouse on a full tuition scholarship, also created the Purpose Driven Scholarship Fund to help other students. To raise initial dollars for the scholarship, during his sophomore year, he would play his saxophone for tips outside of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. In around two years, the fund has raised and awarded to 19 students approximately $40,000. After Morehouse, Gaskin plans to continue working full-time with Reflect.

Geoffrey Golden

Geoffrey Golden, an economics major, is season seven winner of BET’s gospel singing competition “Sunday Best.” Golden’s first album “Kingdom…Live!” was executive produced by gospel artist and director Kirk Franklin, host of “Sunday Best.” The native of Cleveland, Ohio, plans to return to his hometown to focus on full-time music ministry and community ministry.

More info: Commencement is only one event during a full weekend of activities. Alumni from class years ending in “1” and “6” will celebrate Reunion 2016 with a number of events.

Media Parking and Credentials: Media planning to cover Sunday’s Commencement should park in the Sage-Bacote parking lot (next to the Power Plant), and should confirm with the Office of Communications by 6:45 a.m. Sunday.

Traffic Alert: Two right lanes of I-20 westbound between Lee Street and Lowery Boulevard will be closed for construction through Monday morning, May 16th. Two left lanes will be open, and traffic must merge right to exit. DOT advised the Lee Street and Lowery Blvd exits will be open. Delays are expected. An early arrive is suggested.

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Ranked America’s fifth “Most Entrepreneurial College” by Forbes Magazine in 2015, Morehouse College is the nation’s largest liberal arts college for men. Founded in 1867, the College enrolls approximately 2,100 students and historically has conferred more bachelor’s degrees on black men than any other institution in the world. Morehouse College has produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other HBCU. Prominent alumni include Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General; Shelton “Spike” Lee, American filmmaker; Maynard H. Jackson, the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Ga.; and Jeh Johnson, the Secretary of Homeland Security.